Jules stole another glance at him across the room, laughing with his brothers and sisters. Bellamy leaned against his side, and he put his arm around her. His eyes flicked in her direction, and that slow grin that said I love you and I want to get you naked and do dirty things to you sent love searing between them.
Their mothers sidled up to her, beautiful in their fancy dresses. Her mother and her friends had been sipping champagne all evening, and Jules knew they were a little tipsy.
“You haven’t taken your eyes off Grant all night,” her mother said.
I wish I had my hands on him. “You’re one to talk. You and Dad have been kissing every chance you get.”
“That is true.” Her mother giggled and tapped her glass with Margot’s.
“We might be getting older, but we’ve still got it,” Margot eyed her husband, who was heading their way. “And I owe our renewed excitement to you, Jules. It seems mending the fences between Grant and his father has revitalized my husband in many ways.”
Jules wrinkled her nose. “Can we please not talk about that? It’s bad enough that I saw my father’s underwear with my mom’s hands around his privates.”
The ladies howled with laughter as Leni and Sutton joined them.
“What’s so funny?” Leni asked.
“Don’t ask,” Jules said.
“Margot and I were just saying that we’ve still got our sexual mojo,” their mother said.
“Mom,” Leni and Sutton complained in unison.
Margot laughed. “Where do you think you girls get it from? And your father has obviously handed it down to his sons. It looks like Archer is working his way to a threesome.” She motioned to the bar, where Archer was flirting with both Indi and Renee.
Leni narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know about that. Indi looks annoyed.”
“That Indi is a firecracker. She doesn’t seem like the sharing type,” their mother said.
“I heard her talking with Charmaine about the retail space on Main Street. Is she moving here?” Margot asked.
“Why don’t you ask her?” Leni said as Indi strode toward them scowling, her blond hair bouncing with each purposeful step.
“No matter what I say,” Indi seethed to Leni, “do not let me end up on your brother’s boat tonight.” She took Leni’s drink and downed it in one gulp.
Leni rolled her eyes. “Like that’ll work.”
“Never. Again.” Indi plunked the glass down on a table. “That man is so freaking arrogant.”
“That’s my Archer,” their mother said cheerily.
“Indi, honey, is there any truth to the rumor that you might move here?” Margot asked.
“I don’t know,” Indi said less angrily. “I’m toying with the idea and checking out some properties. I really want to get out of the city, but it’s a big commitment, and I may have made a mistake by getting carried away with a certain someone. Speaking of which, it’s almost midnight. I need a drink. Or six.”
Margot and their mother exchanged a mischievous glance, and they both said, “We’ll go with you.”
As they walked off, Sutton said, “Should we save Indi?”
“Nah. She can handle them,” Leni said. “Jules, in case Grant forgets, I know he’s got a lot on his plate, but I emailed him a marketing plan this morning. If he has a chance while you’re gone, can you have him check it out?”
Leni was handling the marketing for Silver Lining Foundation, which was well under way to getting started. It would be a while before it was up and running, but Grant had been working closely with his parents to put together ideas for fundraisers, and he was working with Leni on an overarching marketing plan. He and Sage had been reaching out to artists, and they already had more than eighty well-known artists who wanted to take part in the auctions.
“I’ll have him download it before we leave,” Jules said. “He can look it over during the flight tomorrow.”
“Before you join the Mile-High Club or after?” Sutton teased.
Hm. I hadn’t thought of that. “None of your business.”
“Look at our little sister go,” Leni teased. “It’s about time you owned up to all the fun you’re having with your hunky fiancé.”
Jules didn’t want to talk about her sex life, but she was bursting to talk about their trip. “I can’t believe I’m going to Spain with my gorgeous man! And I get to see Bianca! She has a whole dinner planned for us with her family, and she’s going to show us around for an entire day.”
“At least we know you’ll leave the bedroom once,” Leni teased, and sipped her drink.
Jules had a feeling they wouldn’t leave the hotel room often. They were still as ravenous for each other as ever.
“Speaking of your man, here he comes,” Sutton said.
Grant’s dark eyes were locked on Jules. God, he was gorgeous in his dark suit, his hair slicked back from his handsome face. She was glad he hadn’t shaved his beard. She loved the way it tickled her thighs. A streak of heat moved through her as the memory of their dirty morning came back to her.
“You ladies look like you’re up to no good,” Grant said, reaching for Jules’s hand. “Would you mind if I borrow my girl for a while? It’s almost midnight.”
Sutton sighed. “Being around you guys and Jock and Daphne almost makes me want to find a nice guy and settle down.”
“Time to get my girl another drink before she loses her mind.” Leni took Sutton’s hand, and they headed for the bar.
Jules took hold of Grant’s tie and pulled him down for a kiss. “Should I have told them that my naughty Silver is a nice guy in public but a wicked devil between the sheets?”
“I don’t care what you say to anyone as long as you keep saying yes to me.” He shrugged off his suit coat and put it around her. “What do you say we sneak out of here for a little while?”
“What do you have in mind?” Her pulse was already quickening.
“A little of this.” He kissed her neck. “And this.” He kissed her lips. “And a whole lot of this.” He palmed her butt, pressing her against his hips.
Her heart soared. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He took her hand, hurrying out the open back door and running toward the vines as the countdown began. “Ten, nine, eight…five, four” faded behind them as they slipped into the last row of vines. It was pitch-dark save for the moonlight kissing their faces as Grant swept her into his arms and said, “This is how Halloween night should have ended.”
He lowered his lips to hers, lifting her off her feet as “Happy New Year!” rang out in the distance and I love you roared in her heart.
He brushed his smiling lips over hers and said, “Here’s to the first of many happy New Years.”
“And steamy make-out sessions,” she said with a giggle.
“And sexy showers.” He kissed her.
“And holding you hostage in our bed.”
He laughed, his eyes blazing. “Here’s to a lifetime of loving you.”
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